Dishwasher

ABSTRACT

The present invention deals with a dishwasher comprising a tub ( 2 ) for receiving at least one object that is to be washed, wherein the tub ( 2 ) has a tub bottom ( 7 ) that is downwardly inclined from a first portion of the tub ( 2 ) close to a first side ( 6 ) of the tub towards a second portion of the tub ( 2 ) close to a second side ( 5 ) of the tub, which second side is opposite to the first side, such that a distance (D) between the tub bottom ( 7 ) and a plane comprising an upper edge ( 11 ) of the tub increases towards the second portion of the tub. Thereby, it will be possible to receive large items in the tub, such as plates with a large diameter, without increasing the total height of the dishwasher. The invention is especially advantageous in drawer dishwashers, and when the tub bottom ( 7 ) is downwardly inclined from a front portion of the tub towards a rear portion of the tub.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a dishwasher. More particularly, thedisclosure relates to the design of the bottom of a tub of a dishwasher.

BACKGROUND

When designing dishwashers, there are space constraints imposed bystandards for kitchen appliances, cabinetry, etc. For example, adishwasher cabinet may need to fit within a space that is 817.5-877.5 mmhigh, 595 mm wide and 570 mm deep. A dishwasher has a tub, in whichitems to be washed can be placed. In the tub, a dish rack is situated,in which the items to be washed are placed.

Drawer dishwashers are known from e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,555B1 andU.S. Pat. No. 6,447,081B1. A drawer dishwasher has at least one drawer,each drawer comprising a tub. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,447,081 B1 a drawerdishwasher having two drawers arranged on top of each other in a cabinetis described.

In dishwashers in general, and especially in a two-drawer dishwashersuch a described above, there are space constraints related to theheight of each tub. For example, there may be a problem to fit in largeitems, such as large plates, e.g. plates adapted for receiving a pizza,in such a dishwasher tub.

Hence, an object of the invention is to maximize usage of the spacewithin the dishwasher, to be able to receive large items in a tub of thedishwasher.

SUMMARY

The object of the invention is solved by the characterizing part ofclaim 1 in which a dishwasher is arranged such that a tub bottom isdownwardly inclined from a first portion of the tub close to a firstside of the tub towards a second portion of the tub close to a secondside of the tub, which second side is situated opposite to the firstside of the tub, such that a distance between the tub bottom and a planecomprising an upper edge of the tub increases towards the second portionof the tub.

By arranging the tub of the dishwasher with such an inclined tub bottom,the dishwasher allows for receiving large objects to be washed, such asplates with a large diameter, in the second part of the tub, whileproviding a space for functional components of the dishwasher below thetub and still being able to keep the total height of the dishwasher at alimited height.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the tub bottom isdownwardly inclined from a front part of the tub towards a rear part ofthe tub. Due to this inclination of the bottom of the tub, a ratherlarge plinth area can be provided below the bottom of the front side ofthe dishwasher. Thereby, a kitchen can be equipped with uniform plinthsfor all appliances of a kitchen, including the dishwasher, which is ademand from some kitchen manufacturers. Also, if the dishwasher is notequipped with such a uniform plinth, the plinth area provided by theinvention would allow the user to stand close to the kitchen counterwithout his or her feet striking against the dishwasher.

According to an embodiment of the invention a filter receptacle isplaced at the lowermost position of the tub bottom. By providing the tubwith an inclined bottom and placing the filter receptacle at thelowermost portion of the bottom, the inclination would, at operation ofthe dishwasher, direct water in the tub to the filter receptacle.Thereby, water will circulate quicker through a pump circulation systemof the dishwasher, which would result in low water consumption.

Also, by placing the filter receptacle at the lowermost position of thetub bottom, the risk of air getting into a washing pump connected to thefilter receptacle via a pump inlet is reduced.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the filter receptacle isplaced in a back corner of the tub. An advantage with this embodiment isthat there will be more space for functional components below the tubcompared to if the filter receptacle is placed in the middle of the tub,or in the middle of the rear part of the tub.

The invention is especially advantageous in a drawer dishwasher whereinthe space constraints are normally stricter than for conventionaldishwashers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates, in cross section, a side view of adrawer dishwasher including two drawers.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates, in cross section, a side view of adishwasher drawer according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a cross section, in section I-I in FIG.2, of the dishwasher drawer according to an embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a drawer dishwasher 20, according to an embodiment ofthe invention. The dishwasher 20 has a front portion 23, which in anormal installation would be visible to the user, and a rear portion 24,which in the normal installation would be non-visible to the user, e.g.since it faces a wall. The dishwasher 20 also has an upper portion 26,which normally faces the underside of a counter, under which thedishwasher is arranged. The dishwasher is typically positioned on ahorizontal surface 25, such as a floor or a shelf. This dishwasher 20has a first drawer 21 and a second drawer 22 arranged on top of eachother. However, the invention may be used for other configurations ofdishwashers, such as conventional dishwashers or drawer dishwasherscomprising only one drawer, or comprising more than two drawers.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a dishwasher drawer 1 according to anembodiment of the invention, which may be arranged in a drawerdishwasher 20.

The drawer 1 has a washing tub 2 for receiving plates, cutlery, glasses,bowls, etc. that are to be washed. The inner volume of the tub 2 islimited by a tub bottom 7, substantially vertical inner sides 5, 6 ofthe tub and a substantially horizontal plane 11 comprising an upper edgeof the tub. The horizontal plane 11 comprising the upper edge of the tub2 is normally closed by a lid, which can be opened to allow for accessto the tub from above. The tub bottom 7 is downwardly inclined from afront portion of the tub towards a rear portion of the tub. The frontportion of the tub is adjacent to a vertical front side 6 of the tubfacing a front side of the dishwasher drawer 1, and the rear portion ofthe tub is adjacent to a vertical rear side 5 of the tub facing a rearside of the dishwasher drawer. Thanks to the inclined tub bottom 7, theheight of the tub increases in a direction from the front portion of thetub towards the rear portion of the tub. Due to this measure, largeobjects can be placed in the rear portion of the tub 2, without havingto increase the total height of the tub.

Below the tub bottom 7, there is an enclosure 3 formed for receivingfunctional components 4 of the dishwasher, such as a heater, a pump, asoftener, control electronics, valves etc. The enclosure 3 is defined bythe tub bottom 7 and a drawer bottom 8 situated below the tub bottom 7.

The tub also has a filter receptacle 10 arranged in the bottom 7 of thetub. The filter receptacle 10 is further connected to a washing pump(not shown) via a pump inlet (not shown). The filter receptacle 10 ispreferably arranged in the lowest part of the tub bottom 7, preferablyclose to the rear side 5 of the tub 2. Thereby, the inclination of thetub bottom 7 would, at operation of the dishwasher, direct water in thetub to the filter receptacle 10. The result would be a quick circulationof water through the pump circulation system of the dishwasher, and lowwater consumption.

The functional components 4 are arranged to allow for a low total heightof the drawer. For this reason, the functional components placed in theenclosure 3 below the tub are essentially placed outside the lowestportion of the tub. Thereby, the height of the enclosure 3 below thelowest portion of the tub can be very low.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the tub bottom 7 has aninclination of about 3.5° to 10° relative to a horizontal plane,preferably about 4° to 7° relative to the horizontal plane, and mostpreferably about 5° relative to the horizontal plane. 5° has been foundto be an optimal value for the inclination. If the inclination is lowerthan 5°, some drops of water may remain on the tub bottom. Then a numberof drops of water have to accumulate before the water drops will flowinto the filter receptacle. Also, if the inclination is higher than 5°,there will be too less space in the tub where the tub bottom has itshighest altitude.

The dishwasher drawer 1 preferably has a rotatable sprinkler arm 13 forspraying water into the tub; water which is circulated by a washing pumpthrough a water circulation system from the tub via the filterreceptacle 10 and the pump back to the tub. The sprinkler arm 13 may bearranged to rotate in a plane that is substantially parallel to the tubbottom 7. According to one embodiment, the sprinkler arm 13 is rotatablyconnected to the tub bottom 7.

In the tub there is also preferably situated a dish rack for receivingthe items to be washed. The dish rack is preferably situated close tothe bottom of the tub and inclined with an inclination similar to theinclination of the tub bottom.

Also, according to an embodiment of the invention, which is illustratedin FIG. 2, the tub 2 extends further outwards from a rear portion of thedrawer 1 than the enclosure 3, such that a plinth area 12 is created atthe bottom of the front of the dishwasher drawer, outside the drawer.The user of the dishwasher may place his or her feet in the plinth area12, such that he or she can take an ergonomically advantageous positionwhen e.g. placing dish in the dishwasher.

When the tub bottom 7 is downwardly inclined from a front portion to arear portion it will be possible to have a high relationship between thehighest tub height D and the total height of the drawer, and anyhow beable to design the plinth area 12 in an ergonomically advantageous way.This is achieved by inclining the tub bottom from a front portion of thetub and downwards towards a rear portion of the tub. Then it is possibleto make the distance between the tub bottom at the front portion of thetub and the floor, when the drawer 1 stands on a floor, high enough fora pair of feet to conveniently fit under the front part of thedishwasher.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a front portion of the tubbottom 7 and a front portion of the drawer bottom 8 are connected by adownwardly inclined portion 9 limiting the plinth area 12. Thedownwardly inclined portion may be curved for achieving a moreergonomically advantageous embodiment. The plinth area 12 typically hasthe following measures: The drawer bottom 8 is typically retracted froma cabinet front of the drawer dishwasher by about 140 mm; the heightfrom the floor to the bottom of the dishwasher, at the front portion ofthe drawer, is typically about 100 mm, including the distance from thedrawer bottom 8 to the tub bottom 7 at the front of the tub. Thereby,the drawer can be equipped with a uniform plinth, which is a demand fromkitchen manufacturers for achieving a uniform shape for all appliancesat a kitchen worktop.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a cross section in section I-I of arear section of the dishwasher drawer in FIG. 2, according to anembodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 shows side portions 14, 15 of thetub, the tub top plane 11, the tub bottom 7 and the bottom 8 of thedrawer. In this embodiment, the filter receptacle 10 is arranged in alowermost portion of the tub bottom 7 in the rear portion of the tub,and the surrounding tub bottom will be on a higher level than theportion in which the filter receptacle is arranged.

As is shown in FIG. 3, the filter receptacle 10 and the lowermostportion are placed in a back corner of the tub bottom 7. Thereby, therewill be more space for the functional components 4 compared to if thefilter receptacle 10 is placed in the middle of the tub 2, or in themiddle of the rear portion of the tub.

Alternatively, all components provided in the enclosure 3 may be mountedin an underside of the tub bottom 7. Hence, there need not be any drawerbottom 8, or actually, the drawer bottom would then be the tub bottom 7.

The detailed description has been directed to a drawer dishwasher,although, as mentioned, the invention might also be used for savingspace in a conventional dishwasher.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed preferredembodiments and examples of the invention and, although specific termsare employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only andnot for the purpose of limitation, the scope of the invention being setforth in the following claims.

1. A dishwasher, having a tub (2) for receiving at least one object thatis to be washed, the tub (2) having a tub bottom (7) and substantiallyvertical sides (5, 6, 14, 15), characterized in that the tub bottom (7)is downwardly inclined from a first portion of the tub (2) close to afirst side (6) of the tub towards a second portion of the tub (2) closeto a second side (5) of the tub, which second side is situated oppositeto the first side of the tub, such that a distance (D) between the tubbottom (7) and a plane (11) comprising an upper edge of the tubincreases towards the second portion of the tub.
 2. The dishwasher asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the dishwasher is a drawer dishwasher, andthe tub (2) is situated in a drawer (1) of the drawer dishwasher.
 3. Thedishwasher as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first side (6) of the tub(2) is a front side of the tub facing a front side of the dishwasher,and the second side (5) of the tub (2) is a rear side of the tub facinga rear side of the dishwasher, and wherein the tub bottom (7) isdownwardly inclined from a front portion of the tub towards a rearportion of the tub.
 4. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, wherein thetub bottom (7) presents an inclination of about 3.5° to 10° relative toa horizontal plane, preferably about 4° to 7° relative to the horizontalplane, and most preferably about 5° relative to the horizontal plane. 5.The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tub bottom (7)presents an inclination that is substantially continuous from the firstportion of the tub (2) towards the second portion of the tub (2).
 6. Thedishwasher as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a filter receptacle(10) arranged in a rear portion of the tub bottom (7).
 7. The dishwasheras claimed in claim 1, wherein a filter receptacle (10) is arranged in alowermost portion of the tub bottom (7).
 8. The dishwasher as claimed inclaim 6, wherein the filter receptacle (10) is arranged in a corner ofthe tub bottom (7).
 9. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, wherein arotatable sprinkler arm (13) is arranged to rotate in a plane that issubstantially parallel to the tub bottom (7).
 10. The dishwasher asclaimed in claim 2, further comprising: an enclosure (3) for receivingat least one functional component (4) of the dishwasher, the enclosure(3) being defined at least partially by the tub bottom (7) and a drawerbottom (8), which is situated below the tub bottom (7), the tub bottom(7) and the drawer bottom (8) extending from a rear portion of thedrawer (1) and outwards towards a front portion of the drawer (1), andthe tub bottom (7) extending further outwards towards the front portionof the drawer (1) than the drawer bottom (8).
 11. The dishwasher asclaimed in claim 10, wherein a retracted plinth area (12) is formedbelow a portion of the tub (2) and horizontally outside the enclosure(3), and wherein the plinth area (12) is limited by a downwardlyinclined portion (9), connecting the tub bottom (7) and the drawerbottom (8).